Count doesn't actually measure homelessness

9:15 AM,
Jan. 17, 2014

Written by

Maria Foscarinis

The Great Recession is causing continued hardship for many Americans. Yet a recent report found that homelessness is down. I wish that were true. The research, from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, says homelessness decreased by nearly 4 percent over the past year. But it doesn't actually measure homelessness.

Instead, it looks at people who are in shelters or transitional housing and the number of people who are outside on a single January night. Not included are those doubled up or couch surfing because they can't afford their own place. Neither are people in hospitals, ...